March 22 – On an off-day during spring training, Cleveland Indians pitchers Bob Ojeda, Tim Crews, and Steve Olin are fishing on a rented 18-foot bass boat when the vessel strikes a dock at high speed, killing Olin and Crews. They are the first active major leaguers to die since Thurman Munson in 1979. Ojeda is seriously injured but survives.

April 8 – Against the New York Yankees at Cleveland Stadium, Carlos Baerga of the Cleveland Indians becomes the first player to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same inning. In the Indians' nine-run seventh inning, Baerga begins the scoring with a two-run home run against left-hander Steve Howe. He concludes the scoring by homering again, this time against right-hander Steve Farr. The Indians defeat the Yankees, 15-5.

July 20 – At Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, a fire breaks out in the skybox/press box area, delaying the start of the scheduled game between the Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals. Incidentally, the Braves' trade for Fred McGriff is completed a few days earlier and McGriff arrives at the stadium that night. With the delay, McGriff is able to be inserted into the starting lineup and hits a game-tying two-run homer in the sixth inning, helping the Braves rally from a 5-0 deficit to win 8-5. The Braves trail the San Francisco Giants in the National League West Division by ​91⁄2 games at that point, and this game is seen as the game that sparks their run to the division title.

September 4 – The Philadelphia Phillies lose to the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 6-5. In doing so, they set a new National League record by not being shut out in 151 consecutive games. The major league mark of 308 is held by the Yankees.

September 18 – In yet another twist to the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry, the Red Sox hold a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning. With two outs, the Yankees' Mike Stanley pops out to end the game, however the play is called a no play when home plate umpire Tim Welke is forced to call time when a fan runs out onto the field just as the pitch is delivered. The Yankees then push three runs across the plate to win the game (4-3 final).

September 22 – Pitcher Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers faces just six Seattle Mariners batters before hurting his right elbow. Ryan, who announces his retirement at season's end, finishes his career with 324 wins, 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters.

September 22 – The Colorado Rockies play the final home game of their inaugural season and finish with a major league home attendance record of 4,483,350 fans.

September 28 – The Philadelphia Phillies clinch their first National League East championship in a decade with a 10-7 win in Pittsburgh. the win gives the Phillies their sixth division championship, trailing only rival Pirates for most NL East championships during the two-division era. Mariano Duncan hits a grand slam, his second of the season, one of the team's 8 for the year.

October 4 – The Chicago Cubs, with an 84-78 win-loss record, gain their first winning-season in a non-title year since 1972. From 1973 through 1992 the Cubs have a non-winning record except for their NL Eastern division title years of 1984 and 1989.

October 10 – Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas was named The American League MVP. The first baseman, who ranks in the top 10 of the league's nine offensive categories, batted .317 with 41 home runs and knocked in 128 RBIs for the divisional champions White Sox/

November 3 – Greg Maddux wins his second NL Cy Young Award as he easily outpoints Bill Swift of the Giants and teammate Tom Glavine on ballots cast by the BBWAA. The 27-year old right hander becomes the first hurler to win baseball's best pitcher honors in back-to-back seasons for two different teams. He won the award as a member of the Cubs in 1992.

November 19: Howard Johnson who would turn 33 at the end of the month becomes the first free agent to sign with another team this off-season when he agreed to a one-year deal worth $2,100,000 to play for the Colorado Rockies. the switch-hitting slugger who led the National League in homers and RBIs two years ago with the New York Mets, has seen his production drop in recent seasons, primarily due to injuries.

January 21 – Charlie Gehringer, 89, Hall of Fame second baseman who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers, batting .320 lifetime, scoring 100 runs twelve times, and collecting 200 hits seven times; 1937 MVP had seven 100-RBI seasons, led AL in hits and doubles twice each and in steals and triples once each, retired with 7th most doubles in history and record for career double plays.

January 28 – Vern Kennedy, 85, twice All-Star pitcher for seven teams between 1934 and 1945, who threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in 1935.

April 21 – Hal Schumacher, 82, All-Star pitcher who won 158 games for the New York Giants; pitched 10-inning victory in 1936 World Series.

April 22 – Mark Koenig, 88, shortstop who was the last survivor from the 1927 New York Yankees "Murderers' Row" team; batted .319 the next year.

June 2 – Johnny Mize, 80, Hall of Fame first baseman, primarily for the Cardinals and New York Giants, who won four NL home run titles and retired with the sixth most HRs in history; MVP runnerup in 1939 and 1940 batted .312 in his career and led NL in RBI and total bases three times each and in runs, doubles and triples once each; hit three home runs in a game six times.

June 4 – Bobby Reeves, 93, utility-man who played all positions except catcher for the Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox from 1926 to 1931.

June 26 – Roy Campanella, 71, Hall of Fame catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers who won three MVP awards (1951-53-55) after several standout years in the Negro Leagues; posted a career .500 slugging percentage, highest of any catcher; in 1953, led NL in RBI and became first catcher to hit 40 home runs; career was ended by an automobile accident that left him paralyzed.

July 3 – Don Drysdale, 56, Hall of Fame pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers who won 1962 Cy Young Award and set record with ​582⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings in 1968; led NL in strikeouts three times and hit batsmen five times.

July 4 – Walter Stephenson, 82, backup catcher for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies from 1935 to 1938.

July 5 – Charlie Bishop, 64, pitcher for the Philadelphia & Kansas City Athletics from 1952 to 1955.

July 7 – Ben Chapman, 84, All-Star outfielder who batted .300 six times and led AL in steals four times; as manager of the Phillies, vociferously opposed Jackie Robinson's entry into major leagues.

July 7 – Larry Napp, 77, American League umpire from 1951 to 1974 who worked in four World Series and four All-Star Games.

August 12 – Quincy Trouppe, 80, Negro League catcher who was a 39-year-old rookie with the Cleveland Indians in 1952; with pitcher "Toothpick Sam" Jones, formed the first black battery in American League history on May 3, 1952.

November 4 – Cliff Young, 29, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians who was the 3rd active player of 1993 Indians to die.

November 6 – Ed Sadowski, 62, a catcher for the original Angels who also played with the Braves and Red Sox.

November 8 – Hank Leiber, 82, Cubs and Giants All-Star outfielder who hit .288 with 101 home runs and 518 RBI from 1933–42, including a three-home run game in 1939.

November 12 – Bill Dickey, 86, Hall of Fame catcher for the Yankees who batted .313 lifetime, had four 100-RBI seasons, and was the first AL catcher to hit 200 home runs; 11-time All-Star batted .362 in 1936, caught 38 World Series games, and was later a coach.